More than half of pregnant women do some kind of prenatal screening or testing of their fetus ... The vast majority of women undergo [disease] carrier screening based on their ethnic background, although many, regardless of their heritage, are also screened for cystic fibrosis. Traditionally, certain ethnic groups — especially Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern European descent — have been advised to consider carrier screening for various fatal conditions including Tay-Sachs and Canavan diseases.

[GenPath recently announced a test to detect] 160 diseases in a single genetic screening test. Indeed, GenPath is presenting the new test as a way to level the genetic playing field and expand testing to any woman, anywhere.

This is just the latest of a battery of new blood tests that can determine everything from fetal sex to Down syndrome to paternity.